Shipping-case.



o. HARTMAN.v

SHIPPING CASE.

APPLICATION FILED IBB.15, 1911.

Patented May 28, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH :0..wAsHlNG1-0N. D. cA

C. HARTMAN.

SHIPPING CASE.

. APPLICATION L I' 1,028,020', v I ED EB 15 m1 Patenteamayzs, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

C. HARTMAN.

SHIPPING CASE.

APPLICATION FILM) H1345, 1911.

Patented May 28, 1912.

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CHARLES HARTMAN, OF BUCYRUS, OHIO.

SHIPPING-CASE.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a case of thischaracter in which the side and end walls thereof may be inwardly foldedon the removal of the top of the case so that the latter may be broughtinto compact form whereby it may be readily stored in the least possiblespace when transported from one point to another.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a case which whenset up for use will be strong and is capable of receiving food or otherproducts for the convenient shipment thereof from one locality toanother and when in knocked down position will be compact so as tooccupy the least possible space thus permitting the ready and easyhandling thereof for storing or shipping purposes.

A further object of the invent-ion is the provision of a case in whichthe walls thereof may be of solid or slatted formation to suit the fancyof the user and that is readily and easily collapsed or knocked downwhen not in use and also that may be quickly set up for the packing offood products or mercantile articles whereby they may be shipped fromone point to another without possibility of damaging the same.

A still further object of the invent-ion is the provision of the case inwhich the hinged connections between the foldable walls thereof are ofsimple form yet possessing requisite strength for severe usage and thatwill enable the body of the case to be easily and conveniently set upfor use or knocked down when not in use.

A still further object of the invention is i the provision of a case ofthis character which is simple in construction, strong, durable, andthat may be manufactured at a minimum expense.

ln the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification isillustrated a preferred form of the embodiment of the invention which toenable those skilled in Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 15, 1911.

Patented May 28,1912.

Serial No. 508,706.

'the art to carry the invention into practice will be set forth atlength in the following detailed description while the novelty of theinvention will be pointed out in the claim succeeding the description.However it is to be understood that changes, variations andmodifications may be made in the invention such as come properly withinthe scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit oftheinvention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a collapsible shippingcase constructed in accordance with the invention, the same being shownin set up position. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional viewthereof. Fig. 3 is an end elevation. Fig. A is a top plan view of thecase when partly folded having portions thereof broken away. Fig. 5 is asectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is an end elevationshowing the case in folded position and its top resting thereon. Fig. 7is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the case when closed.Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a modified form ofcase. Fig. 9 is a top plan view thereof when in folded position the samebeing partly broken away. Fig. 10 is a vertical transverse sectionalview of the same when in upright position. Fig. 11 is a fragmentaryperspective view of a modified form of hinge for use with the case. Fig.12 is a fragmentary-side elevation of a still further modification ofhinge. Fig. 13 is a sectional view on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals the collapsible casecomprises a body including a bottom 2 having fixed thereto and risingfrom the same vertical end strips 3 and side strips 4 and 5respectively, the side strip 5 being of a slightly greater height thanthe side strip 4, and the end strips 3 are connected to the said sidestrips in any suitable manner. Fixed externally to the side and endstrips are suitable brace cornerV cleats 6 which serve to materiallystrengthen the case as will be clearly obvious.

Swingingly connected to the end and side strips are inwardly foldableend and side sections 7 and 8 respectively, the side sections S beingconnected on the side strips A and 5 so that on the inward folding ofthe side sections one of the same may be folded on to and over-lap theother, it being understood of course that the end sections are foldedinwardly prior to the folding of the side sections so that said endsections will lie between the bottom 2 and folded side sections 8thereby assuring compactness to the crate when knocked down orcollapsed.

The end strips 3 and the end sections 7 are provided withcorrespondingly beveled meeting edges 9 which prevent the outwardbulging of the end sections when the case is set up for use and alsorelieve the strain upon the hinges connecting them to the side strips aswill be hereinafter more fully described.

Carried by the end strips 3 and side strips 4 and 5 are hinged leaves,each comprising a triangular shape plate 10 from the wider end of whichproject bendable extensions 11, the plates 10 being disposed against theinner faces of the side and end strips and are spaced from each otherthe desired distance while the bendable extensions 11 are bent about thesaid strips 3, i and 5, the free ends of the plates 10 and extensions 11are inturned and driven into the said strips thereby securely fasteningthe hinged leaves to the same without the use of screws or nailfasteners. Suitably secured to the inner edges of the end sections 7 areU shaped plates 12 through whichV are passed wire loops 13 the ends ofwhich being suitably twisted together as at 14. These loops 13 arefurther twisted to form eyes 15 loosely engaging suitableV openingsprovided in the plates 10 thereby hinging the said end sections 7 to theend strips 3, the eyes 15 being disposed substantially flush with theinner faces of the said end sections to permit the same to easily foldinwardly when bringing .the case into knocked down or collapsedposition. Suitably secured transversely to the side sections 8 aremetallic straps 1G each being" formed from a single strip and passedthrough these straps 16 and the side sections 8 near the inner edgesthereof are wire loops 17 the ends of each being twisted or otherwisesecured together. These loops are further twisted to form the eyes 18the same loosely engaging the suitable openings formed in the widerendsof the plates 10 carried on the side strips 4L and 5V thus the sidesections 8 will be hinged thereto whereby they may be folded inwardly,the eyes 1S being disposed in a plane with the inner faces of the saidsidesections so as to enable the easy inward folding of the latter.

Located medially of the case and fixed to the bottom 2 thereof aretransversely arranged L shaped ears 19 provided with suitable openingsin which are loosely engaged twisted eyes 20 formed in wire loops 21 thelatter being engaged 'with and carried by the foldable'partition 22, theends of the wire loops 21 being twisted together or otherwise securedand such loops serve as hinges for the partition 22 whereby it may befolded on to the bottom 2 of the case or raised at right angles theretoand when in this position divides the said case into independentcompartments 23 for receiving eggs or food products. f Y

It may be stated that the bottom, end and side sections of the case maybe made from slats formed from wood or other suitable material in lieuofthe solid board-like formation as is here shown, this being optionalwith the manufacturer.V

Fixed to the external faces of the end sections transversely thereof arecross cleats 24, the same being disposed near the outer free edgesthereof. Removably fitted upon the case at the top thereof is aY closurelid or cover 25 the same having xed thereto at its Vopposite enddepending strip 26 which are adapted to lie exteriorly-of the endsections 7 and rest upon the cross cleats 24.

Securely mounted centrally on the depending strips 26 are fastening ears27 the saine being formed with outer and intermediate bendableextensions 28 which are wrapped or bent about the said depending endstrips 26, the free ends of the tongues 28 being in- .turned and driveninto the strips 26 thereby securely fixing the ears 27 to the same.These ears 27 engage in. vertical sockets 28 formed centrally in theinner faces of the cross cleats 24 so that the said ears 27 Vwill lieagainst the outer face of the end sections 7. The ears 27 are providedwith suitable apertures 29 through which are passed ordinary nails orscrews thereby fastening the lid or coverrin position upon the case, thecover being adapted to rest upon the outer free edges of the side andend sections 7 and S of the said case, when the latter is set up foruse. l

Mounted upon the inner faces of the Vend sections 7 and connectedthereto by means c' of pivots 30 for swinging movement are hook-likecatches 31 same being adapted for lockingV engagement in staples 32fixed in the side sections 8, the catches 31 when engaged in the staples32 being adapted to lock the said side and end sections together. Thesecatches are provided with flat outer edges 33 so that when the saidcatches are in engaging position in the staples 32 the edges 33 will lieflush with the outer edges4 of the side sections 8 so that the cover orlid 25 when placed upon the case will contact with the edges 33 of thecatches and thereby prevent the accidental unlocking thereof or thedisengagement of the same from the staples 32 thus preventing thepossibilty of the case becoming knocked down or collapsed when in set upposition during transit.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 there is shown a;-

modification of the Vinvention wherein the case comprises a bottom 34 tothe marginal edges of which are suitably fixed substantially L shapedmetallic st-rips 35 the free edges of which rise a suitable distanceabove the bottom.

Connected to the metallic strips 35 are inwardly foldable side and endsections 36 and 37 respectively, the said sections having securedthereto reinforcing straps 38 the same being disposed transversely ofthesaid side sections and each are formed from a single piece ofmaterial. Also the end sections 37 have fixed thereto at their inner andouter faces brace straps 39 the same being disposed transverselythereof.

Engaged with the strap 38 and passed through the side sections 36 attheir inner edges are wire loops 40 the ends of which being suitablyconnected together and these loops are twisted to form hinged eyes 41the latter loosely engaged in suitable openings formed in the L shapedstrips 35 thus hinging the side sections 36 thereto so as to enable themto be inwardly folded on the collapsing of the case. The end sections 37have secured at their inner edges U shaped plates 43 through which arepassed wire loops 44 provided with twisted eyes 45 the same beingloosely engaged with suitable openings formed in the L shaped strips 35at the ends of the bottom 34 of the case. Thus the said end sections 37will be hinged to the said L shaped strips 35 whereby they may beinwardly folded on the collapsing of the case.

Carried by the end sections 37 and connected thereto by pivots 45 arehook-like catches 46, the same being adapted for engagement with staple47 fixed to and projecting inwardly to the side sections 36, the catches46 being reversed with respect to the catches 31 as shown in Figs. 3,4and 5 in the drawings and are adapted to be held in locked position by aremovable lid or cover 48 when positioned on the case, the cover 48being provided with depending end flanges 49 to engage externally withthe end sections 37 of the case when the cover is mounted thereon.

In Fig. 11 in the drawings is shown a modification of hinge for use inconnecting the foldable sections of the case, the hinge being formed ofstrap leaves50 and 51 respectively constructed from single pieces ofmaterial preferably metal, the leaf 50 being cut at one end and bent toprovide space eyes 52 while the leaf 51 is also cut and bent at one endto form a single eye 53.

.Facing the leaf 51 is an L shaped plate 54 the same being cut and bentat its right angular end to provide a single eye 55 and passed throughthese eyes 52, 53 and 55 is a pintle 56 connecting the leaves and platetogether for swinging movement. The leaf 51 is suitably secured to aswinging section while the leaf 51 and plate 54 are connected to anothersection, the sections being not shown. Thus the same may be movedrelative to each other.

In Figs. 12 and 13 there is shown a still further modification of hingewhich comprises a pair of loops 57 and 58 respectively the loop 57 beingformed with an eye 59 while the loop 58 is formed with a similar eye 60at right angles to the said eye 59 and loosely connected thereto. Iheseloops 57 and 58 are engaged with sections 60 at their adjacent edges andin this manner the said sections will be hinged together.

What is claimed is- A shipping case comprising a body having a bottom,side and end strips xed to said bottom and having their longitudinaledges beveled, side and end sections hingedly connected to said stripsand having their meeting edges correspondingly beveled to the edges ofsaid strips, hinged leaves comprising substantially triangularshapedplates carried by said strips and provided with extensions adapted to bebent about said strips, straps carried by said side sectionstransversely and on each side thereof and hingedly connected to theleaves on said side strips, cleats having vertical sockets xed to saidend sections transversely thereof, a cover resting upon said cleats, andfastening ears having extensions engaging said cover and the sockets insaid cleats.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES HARTMAN.

Witnesses:

F. O. PARKER, BENNETT S. JONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

